Railroad signal



Oct. 20, 1925- H. E. HODGSON RAILROAD SIGNAL Filed Dec. 18. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 20, 1925.

H. E. HODGSON RAILROAD SIGNAL Filed Dec. 18. 1923 2 Sheets-6110M. 2

moleusr/ Patented Get. 20, 1925.

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Application filed December 18, 1923. Serial No. 681,323.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIETTE E. Hooc- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Railroad Signal, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a railroad signal system of the kind covered by my Patent No. 1,470,009, dated October 9, 1923, involving the use of differentiated groups of ties in a railway line at predetermined progressive distances of approach to a danger point, such as a road crossing. According to the present improvement the groups of ties are distinguished by part or all of their members being extended outward from the track, to carry upstanding members of simple form and construction and of a readily noticeable character. The invention also includes the provision of a swingingly supported arm at one, or possibly more than one, of the fixed signal stations, this arm being arranged to be hit by the locomotive and to rattle harmlessly along its side, attracting the engineer by the noise which it makes.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the improvements:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a length of railroad track, including a road crossing, and showing three fixed signal stations;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a swinging arm and post, seen at the first of these stations;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of this post and arm, the outer part of the arm broken away;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the tie signal groups;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation illustrating a11- other form;

gig. 6 is a side View of still another form; an

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification illustrating the extension of the ties by means of plates.

In Fig. 1 the railroad rails are marked 1, some of the undifferentiated ties are shown at 2, and 3 is a road crossing. Three fixed signal stations in the line of approach to the crossing are shown by way of illustration marked A, B and C, which may be, for example, at three, two and 1 mile instances, respectively, from the crossing.

At these stations I now extend selected ties outward beyond the other ties in the roadway, and mount thereon upwardly-projecting signal members of forms such as those marked 5, 5 and 5 The form designated 5 comprises two tie pieces or timbers, erected in A-fashion and securely fastened together and to the extensions 6 of the ties. The form 5 comprises two vertical uprights standing on tie extensions, and a connecting horizontal top piece extending parallel with the right of way. In Fig. 6 the member designated 5 is a metal hook, made of gas pipe, and numerous other forms of wood or metal may be employed. Fig. 7 shows that extensions of ties may be obtained by fastening on projecting plates 6, to which the signal member 5, or a signal member of other form, is secured. The several forms span groups of the ties.

At one of the stations I may also provide the swinging arm signal 7, carried by a post 8, standing at one side of the track. The arm 9 is connected to the upper end of the post by strong connections 10, so as to be capable of swinging horizontally at opposite sides of the central position, and preferably inclines downward toward its outer end, so as to tend to return to this position by gravity. Springs 11, at opposite sides of the arm, connecting the arm and the post, also serve to hold the arm central and to return it when displaced. A hasp hook fastening 12, such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,468,861, dated September 25, 1923, can be used with advantage for fastening the arm out of action, the hasp hook being pivoted on one side of'the post and adapted to cooperate with a keeper eye 13 on the arm.

The arm is so arranged as to project somewhat into the path of a locomotive, so that it will be encountered thereby and brushed out of the way, the action of the springs and gravity causing it to roll lightly along the side of the locomotive so as to give an audible signal.

The inner end of the arm and its hinge eyes 10 are within a recess 14 in the face of the post, this recess having divergingly inclined sides 15 which serve as limit stops for the arm. These limit stops permit the arm to avoid the train without breakage, but confine it against being thrown wide of the locomotive.

What I claim as new is:

1. Improvement in means for protecting crossings or other danger points in railroad rights of way by means of differentiated groups of ties located at predetermined distances of approach to the danger point, which comprises upstanding fixed signal members of distinctive forms mounted on end extensions of the ties spanning" groups of the ties, substantially as set forth.

2. A swinging signal arm mounted'on a" post placed at a signal point beside arailroad track, the arm normally projecting toward the track in such proximity as to touch the side of a locomotive to rattle along the side thereof and thus attract attention.

' HARRIETTE E. HODGSON. 

